Self-Published Genius #40: Autonomous Reality?

This is an exciting addition to our series about Self-Published Geniuses, where we bring you news of authors with a vanity press book in which the author claims to have made paradigm-shattering discoveries, and announces his work by hiring a press release service.

We always need to confirm that the book qualifies for our collection. Was it published by a vanity press? Absolutely! The press release says the publisher is something called CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. Their website leaves no doubt — they say: “Hundreds of thousands of authors like you are publishing profitable work right now instead of waiting for agents and publishers to give the green light.” It sounds like if you’re willing to pay, they’ll publish your underwear.

Okay — we’ve got a vanity press book and we’ve got the author’s press release. Let’s find out what it says, with some bold font added by us for emphasis. The lead paragraph of the press release will immediately grab your attention:

In his book, “‘Beyond Intelligent Design: From an autonomous universe to a functional virtual reality’, Efthimios Harokopos presents his case in favor of teaching alternatives to evolution theory in the education curriculum.

Ah, that’s what we want to see. Now you’re all wondering — what’s his argument for teaching alternatives? Here it comes:

The central argument in the book is that the question of the autonomy of our physical reality has not been settled by modern science.

The autonomy of reality? Wow — he’s referring to the independence of reality, its freedom from being governed by some sovereign. Let’s read on:

The book starts its journey at Elea, an ancient Greek colony, where philosophers presented compelling logical arguments against the autonomy of the world. Harokopos argues that the answers to these logical arguments offered by modern science are not convincing and there is a possibility that we do not fully understand the nature of our physical reality.

This is fascinating! The press release continues:

If our world is not autonomous, then there are significant implications: Non-autonomy could imply that life did not emerge by chance but there is underline [sic — underlying?] intelligence that governs its creation and evolution, which he calls intelligent interaction.

Gasp — does he mean “intelligent design”? It seems that he does. Here’s more:

Intelligent design vs. evolution debate is one of the most controversial debates. Harokopos approaches the notorious intelligent design doctrine from a novel perspective based on the virtual reality hypothesis and in a way that allows falsification through experimentation. Obscured facts are presented about the foundations of classical and modern science that challenge the autonomy of this world. Harokopos argues that the fragile foundations of modern science warrant the investigation of alternatives, such as theories that deny the autonomy of this world and corroborate the hypothesis of constant intelligent interaction, which in turn indirectly supports the intelligent design hypothesis.

Wow — this guy should be working for the Discoveroids! Moving along:

Harokopos makes it clear that his book does not attempt to provide support to the intelligent design hypothesis doctrine and that he is agnostic on this issue. Instead, he argues, science must not exclude alternatives theories, such as those that challenge the autonomy of this world, because such autonomy is not evident. More importantly, the book asserts that alternative theories about the emergence of the world and human life should be part of the educational curriculum because they can provide a better balance of human values and that is to the benefit of society.

Golly — he’s right! Scientists have to prove that the universe is autonomous, and they haven’t done that.

You’ve got to be wondering — who is this brilliant author? The press release tells us:

Efthimios Harokopos received a Bachelor’s degree with honors and a Masters degree from SUNY at Buffalo. He then completed the coursework towards a PhD and received a second Master’s degree from Columbia University. He has a passion for philosophy of science and does independent research regarding the nature of reality and the impact of digital revolution on human life and evolution.

7 responses to “Self-Published Genius #40: Autonomous Reality?”

Ranks right up there with authors like Casey Luskin, Stephen Meyer, Bill Dembski, et. al. Perhaps they’ll lend their personal endorsements to this writer and further his career, maybe even making him an honorary Discotute Fellow.

Did you notice that both the reviewers are from the same operation?
Dmitri Rabounski is the Editor, and Indranu Suhendro is the Scientific Secretary, of the Zelmanov Journal (now defunct since they last published in 2012 – though they say “postponed”, and are referring submitted papers to Progress in Physics, where Dmitri Rabounski is now Editor-in-Chief).
Wikipedia has this to say about Progress in Physics: “Progress in Physics is an American alternative science journal, publishing papers in theoretical and experimental physics, including related themes from mathematics” and “The journal has published papers by several authors, who, along with some of the editors, claim to have been blacklisted by the Cornell University arXiv as proponents of fringe scientific theories.”
Sounds as if Harokopos would be right at home.

Harokopos makes it clear that his book does not attempt to provide support to the intelligent design hypothesis doctrine and that he is agnostic on this issue. Instead, he argues, science must not exclude alternatives theories, such as those that challenge the autonomy of this world, because such autonomy is not evident. More importantly, the book asserts that alternative theories about the emergence of the world and human life should be part of the educational curriculum because they can provide a better balance of human values and that is to the benefit of society.

I see. So “[providing] a better balance of human values” is more “to the benefit of society” than is teaching students ideas grounded in facts and logic?

This reminds me of Jeremy Rifkin’s argument in his anti-genetic engineering screed Algeny that Darwin’s ideas should be challenged because they devalued life. Rifkin went so far as to praise creationist Duane Gish (remember him?) for his attacks of evolution.

When “values” trump reason, we’re headed down a dangerous path. A certain Austrian once took Germany down that path, and while I’m (almost) sure that creationists don’t intend to slaughter people by the millions, they don’t have to go that far to ruin America—turning the U.S. into a nuclear-armed nation of numbskulls will do it. To quote Thomas Jefferson, “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.”